If you are in the graphic design industry, or thinking about joining, you’ve probably been faced with the quintessential question of: Mac or PC. The debate regarding which better suits the needs of a graphic design professional rages just as raucously today and remains just as contentious as ever.
The debate between the Mac and the PC is a massive topic that has generated a lot of interest in the computer industry.
Generally speaking Macs appear to be the graphic design industry favourite, while PC’s are preferable in the business world. However, when making the decision it’s still important to consider a variety of important factors when making your decision.
Graphics, colours and font variety are a key element to consider when you work within the graphic design industry. Having a computer that makes work with these three things easy and transferable between computers is extremely important. Apple has always established their brand as being a very design focused computer, often surpassing PC’s in many regards. Mac colour calibration and display is often more accurate, and more configurable.
The software that is unique to PC and Mac is another factor that graphic designers should consider when purchasing a machine to work on. All of the major applications, including the Adobe Creative Suite, are developed for both platforms. But, because Mac is more design focused, programs specifically made for the purpose of design have emerged and are exclusive only to those who use Macs. Some of the best professional apps are unique only to Macs. Apps such as best pro apps are tailored for it like Text Mate, BBEdit, Final Cut Pro, Reason etc. In saying that though, if your work is focused in a particular faculty of graphic design, such as 3-D animation or game design, the programs available for PC are quite outstanding, especially considering the PC reputation as being a gamer’s computer.
There are other smaller details that make Macs more useable than PC’s. Short cuts, easy and obvious function buttons make using a Mac considerably less time consuming and frustrating than a PC, though there are those that argue that these characteristics of the Mac detracts from the traditional computer experience. Macs have also been reported as being significantly more reliable that PC’s. They crash far less than PC’s and experience less screen freezes. In terms of how this relates to the work of a graphic designer, having a faster and more consistently reliable machines means that you can remain confident that your work isn’t going to be lost or your work flow isn’t going to be constantly disrupted. As a graphic designer you often find yourself working with delicate and tedious scopes of work. Precision when working is a fundamental part of being a successful graphic designer, so having a machine that can accommodate to that is of particular importance.
Ultimately, the people behind Macs are very well aware of their primary audience and so they create and deliver equipment and programs accordingly. The scope for PC is a lot broader than a Mac, though that is certainly not to say that the use of a Mac is limited to just graphic design. The strength of the Mac remains firmly attributed to its brilliance in the area of design, where as a PC is less specific to design and more invested in other areas of computer usage.
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Essential Skills for Graphic Designers
What does it really mean to be a graphic designer? In fact, the answer to that question is quite complicated. To make a career out of graphic design in today’s competitive job market, one must equip themselves with a variety of skills in order to stay on top of their game as a successful designer. Whether you’ve attended BlueSkyGraphics graphic design courses, or you are self-taught, you will find that you need a certain skill set in order to advance your professional life to new heights. A competence in all of these skills will set you apart from lesser graphic designers, and really give you that extra edge to wow your clients and employers. Below are listed just a few examples of those well-rounded skills we’re talking about.
1. Find your own unique style. As a designer it is important to develop your own artistic style. Very often, it is a repetition of style that brings structure to a design. If you develop a strong, artistic voice, clients will begin to feel comfortable with the recognizable elements of your design style. That being said, you must also be able to give every new project its own special flair.
2. Master typography. Many people fail to recognize typography as a design skill. Though it is subtle and often goes unnoticed, a knowledge of typography makes a huge difference in advertising and graphic work, and in a design portfolio. Since letters come in all different shapes, forms and colors, it is up to you to recognize which typefaces will effectively communicate a given message, and the different options you have in terms of font families. Many consider typography the official language of graphic design, so it is up to you to become fluent in that language.
3. Understand web design. Today’s age is all about the internet. Any advertising campaign you work on as a graphic designer is sure to have a fully-integrated web component. In fact, companies and potential clients probably advertise online more than anywhere else! If you can manage to become well-versed in multiple web coding languages, you can do anything from designing websites, user interfaces or blogs.
4. Learn about photography. As you travel down your design career path, sooner or later you will need to learn about photography. Understanding how a camera works, and how to illuminate and frame your subject will become a valuable skill that will enhance your design work. Attending an art college is a great way to gain exposure to the art of photography and all of its involved technology.
Amidst all of the skills you must know, it is also important to remember that no graphic design degree program can teach you to love life and feel passionate about what you do!
